BY ANDY GARDNER
North Country This Week

MASSENA — The Board of Trustees will move forward with finding someone to appoint to the mayor’s seat to replace Tim Currier. And Acting Mayor Matt Lebire is urging the village board to take their time in making that decision.

The discussion happened during the village board’s Tuesday, Jan. 19 meeting. Currier, who was arrested as part of a drug investigation in December, announced he will resign as mayor seat Feb. 1.

Lebire said he has spoken with Currier in private and feels the resignation is “the appropriate thing to do,” and Currier needs to “focus on whatever personal issues he’s dealing with.”

“It’s important the village move forward without distraction,” he said.

He said they have few options to fill the mayor’s seat, and the process is dictated by village law.

“It appears we need to appoint a new mayor at some point soon. The timeframe is not indicated,” Lebire said, adding that he intends to consult with other village officials and elections experts on the proper procedure. “It’s important we don’t rush into it.”

He said they can opt to appoint a current trustee as mayor, or someone else who is eligible but doesn’t sit on the board. Whoever is appointed would serve as mayor until Dec. 1. In the November election, the mayor’s seat will be on the ballot to fill out the final year of Currier’s unexpired term.

The village board wants to hear thoughts from village residents on how they should fill Currier’s seat.

“I would encourage the community members to reach out and give feedback on how they’d like us to proceed on filling this vacancy,” Lebire said. “We will continue to update everyone as we move forward with more information on that process.”

Currier, a former Massena police chief, announced the resignation in a statement released Tuesday morning, Jan. 19. He announced a leave of absence to seek drug treatment shortly after his Dec. 1 arrest on charges of misdemeanor possession of crack cocaine, fleeing police and a felony count of evidence tampering. He was arrested at gunpoint after county detectives and federal agents attempted to pull him over near Center Street. Currier is accused of fleeing the stop and throwing one gram of crack cocaine out of his passenger window, coming to a stop near the intersection of Center and Willow streets.

Lebire added that there will be “a lot more to come on that subject, particularly at our February board meeting.”

Currier’s complete resignation statement can be read by clicking here.